THE FORMULA FOR A BLESSING

INTRO:

Only a foolish man would not want a “blessing” of God! Where do these blessings come from?

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

And how do we obtain these blessings?

Joh 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask [in my name], that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Notice if that prayer is not in the name of Jesus it will get into Heaven and In Heaven is where all blessings begin there journey to us.

TEXT:

(Teach us to PRAY)

Luk 11:1  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Luk 11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luk 11:3  Give us day by day our daily bread.
Luk 11:4  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

I.) THE FORMULA:

1.) THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP:

(Our Father)

If God had not wanted to have a close personal relationship with each and everyone one of us HE WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE HIMSELF KNOWN TO US. God did not have to give us His Holy Word. He chose to do it. The “veil” of the Temple was torn in half, opening the door to prayer by each individual to reach a Holy God. He provided the way.

HOW CAN WE NOT TALK TO HIM!

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2.) THERE HAS TO BE FAITH IN HIM:

(which art in heaven)

How can we expect anything from God if we do not believe on Him.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

3.) THERE HAS TO BE A HOLY RESPECT FOR HIM:

(Hallowed be thy name)

Hallowed means: Consecrated to a sacred use, or to religious exercises; treated as sacred; reverenced.

These are just words that cannot come close to how we should reverence our Lord.

Reverence is nearly equivalent to veneration, but expresses something less of the same emotion. It differs from awe, which is an emotion compounded of fear, dread or terror, with admiration of something great, but not necessarily implying love or affection. We feel reverence for a parent, and for an upright magistrate, but we stand in awe of a tyrant. This distinction may not always be observed.

We will stand in awe of God when we see Him and that day is coming soon. After we overcome our fear we will be in awe of Him for we will see Him for what He is, God id a God of Love!

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18  [There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love].
1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

4.) THERE HAS TO BE AN EXPECTATION OF GOD:

(Thy kingdom come)

EXPECTATION MEANS: The act of expecting or looking forward to a future event with at least some reason to believe the event will happen. Expectation differs from hope. Hope originates in desire,and may exist with little or no ground of belief that the desired event will arrive. Expectation is founded on some reasons which render the event probably. Hope is directed to some good; expectation is directed to good or evil.

We have got to know that not only will God hear our prayer but that He is willing and able to provide that need. God will answer every prayer that reaches into His throne room!

King David wrote these words:

Psa 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psa 62:5  My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

5.) THERE HAS TO BE SUBMISSION TO GOD AND HIS WILL:

(Thy will be done)

There is a reason and purpose for each and every one of God’s children. No one else has the same purpose that each of us has on our own. God will provide the things it takes to fulfill the purpose He has for you!

Rom 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

AND WE CAN KNOW OUR PURPOSE IS FOR GOOD AND NOT BAD THINGS.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

6.) THERE MUST BE A PETITION:

(Give us day by day our daily bread)

Petition means: to ask, properly to urge or press.

Notice this is a daily request!

God knows our needs before we even ask.

Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

We must ask so we will know ourselves that He hears us.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7.) THERE MUST BE A CONFESSION:

(And forgive us our sins)

Though we do not always like to admit it we all have sin in our lives. There is the sin of commission.(Knowing that we have sinned) and the Sin of omission. (Not doing what we know to do)

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

WE ALREADY KNOW THIS IS A DAILY THING: (Give us day by day)

8.) THERE MUST BE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS:

(for we also forgive)

God wants to bless us so how can we expect forgiveness when we will not forgive those that have done us wrong. The word for that is hypocrite.

Psa 78:38  [But he, being full of compassion], [forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not]: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

WE KNOW GOD DOES NOT CHANGE.

Joe 2:18  Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and [pity his people].

Pity is another word for compassion.

The words of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

9.) THERE MUST BE A SERVANTHOOD:

(And lead us)

We must get out of God’s way to get under the spout where the blessings come out!

“WHERE HE LEADS ME I WILL FOLLOW”, SHOULD BE THE ONLY SONG IN OUR HEART.

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, [to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass]; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

1Co 7:22  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Mar 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mar 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

10.) THERE MUST BE A DEPENDANCE:

(but deliver us from evil)

We must believe that God can and will deliver us from Hell and His coming wrath on this world!

THIS IS NOT “INDEPENDENCE” TO DO AS WE WILL BUT WILLING TO DO THE WILL OF GOD.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

II.) HOW DO I CHEAT MYSELF OUT OF GOD’S BLESSINGS?

1.) WHEN I FAIL TO FOLLOW THIS FORMULA HE GAVE ME THEN MY PRAYER WILL BE HINDERED:

HINDERED MEANS: Stopped; impeded; obstructed; retarded.

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

2.) UNCONFESSED SIN WILL HINDER MY PRAYER:

Psa 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Psa 66:19  But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Psa 66:20  Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

3.) WHEN I PRAY OUT OF CARNAL MOTIVES:

Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

4.) WHEN I SIMPLY DO NOT BELIEVE GOD WILL DO THESE THINGS:

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

5.)  WHEN I SIMPLY CANNOT GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE AND I HAVE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS:

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1Pe 3:8  [Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing].
1Pe 3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

THE BIBLE SAYS:

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. [The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.]

OUR PRAYERS MUST BE SINCERE AND THEY MUST BE FERVENT.

AMEN.